Synagis Season Extended for Counties in Southeast Texas and Gulf Coast Areas

Date: February 26, 2021 Attention: All Providers Providers should monitor the Texas Children’s Health Plan (TCHP) Provider Portal regularly for alerts and updates associated to the COVID-19 event.  TCHP reserves the right to update and/or change this information without prior notice due to the evolving nature of the COVID-19 event.Call to action: Synagis (palivizumab) is indicated for children with a high risk of infection to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).  This virus causes respiratory tract infections and severe lung disease in infants and children.  Texas Health and Human Services (HHSC) is extending the 2020-21 Synagis seasonthrough March 15, 2021for counties in Region 5 (Southeast Texas) and 6 (Gulf Coast Texas). The Texas RSV region schedule can be found on the Texas Health and Human Services (HHSC) Vendor Drug Program (VDP) website.  HHSC’s policy regarding approval of up to five monthly shots per season remains for the two areas.  HHSC continues to monitor RSV activity and will announce any further extensions. Next steps for providers: Providers should continue to follow American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines when prescribing. Off-season requests, or extended therapy requests, will need further case by case review by TCHP. If you have any questions, please email the TCHP Pharmacy department at: tchppharmacy@texaschildrens.org.For access to all provider alerts,log into: www.thecheckup.org or www.texaschildrenshealthplan.org/for-providers.